ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURE OF AN EASTERN TEXAS AQUATIC TURTLE COMMUNITY

作者：Riedle J Daren^*; Kazmaier Richard T; Killian Jamie; Littrell Wes B

来源：Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2015, 10(2): 695-702.

• community ecology
• emydids
• kinosternids
• chelydrids

In recent years there has been a significant increase in our knowledge of global and regional patterns of turtle diversity. Species assemblage patterns are thought to be predictable across larger geographic scales, although there is still much to learn about assemblage patterns at local scales. Previous null model testing of aquatic turtle assemblages suggested that microhabitat and food were important dimensions in determining turtle community structure, but more data are needed to refine our understanding of their assemblage patterns at local and regional scales. We sampled for aquatic turtles at Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in eastern Texas, USA, between 2007 and 2009 to test for species segregation along environmental gradients and between macro-habitats. We captured eight species of aquatic turtles at GEWMA, which segregated along environmental gradients based on stream flow, depth, availability of basking structure, and percentage of emergent vegetation. We also observed segregation among macrohabitat types between closely related species of both chelydrids and kinosternids.

• 出版日期2015-8